PICTURE QUALITY This model had excellent high-definition picture quality. It did an excellent job displaying the finest detail. Color accuracy was excellent, so colors looked very natural and lifelike. Contrast--the difference between the darkest blacks and brightest whites--was good, so images had depth and dimension. Black levels were very good, thanks to LG's effective "LED Local Dimming," and were still acceptable even with the feature turned off. The brightness level was good, making it a suitable choice for most rooms. In scenes with subtly shaded light-to-dark areas, such as a sky during sunset, the TV did an excellent job producing a smooth transition without distinct, coarse bands. The deinterlacing and film mode operations were excellent on HD content; there was little or no trace of jaggies on the edges of objects for video and film-based 1080i video content, such as from cable.
VIEWING ANGLE This LG has a wide viewing angle overall, better than that of most LCDs. It will provide the same picture quality, with fewer problems than most LCD sets, for typical viewing conditions--say, if your family is seated across a long sectional or in chairs off to the sides of the TV.
With brighter scenes, like sporting events, the display did a fine job maintaining accurate colors and contrast whether we moved off to the sides or were viewing from above or from below screen. The picture did show some dimming from the sides but not to any point we found distracting. With dark scenes the display didn't fare quite as well. When viewed from the sides, the depth of black levels varied depending on the vertical position of the viewer's head. As we moved closer to the screen this limitation became even more apparent, especially if seated on the floor looking upward where black levels brightened significantly. This display's wide viewing angle is best appreciated when viewed at eye level to the screen.
ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE This LG UHD TV delivers full 4K picture detail, with very good HD-to-UHD upconversion. All native 4K content we played on this LG, including movies and videos, were presented in full detail with generally excellent image fidelity when played back via the TV's HDMI inputs (all HDMI inputs support 4K). We detected some subtle edge enhancement applied to the image which accentuates the outlines around objects, but it was mild and not always apparent. We were able to stream 4K content from Netflix and Amazon Prime, confirming the set does include an HEVC decoder. The 4K programs showed better detail and texture over the 1080p version of the same program, though again we did detect a bit of edge enhancement. We tried playing our 4K videos and photos from a flash drive input via the TV's USB port and results were mixed; HEVC video files played fine but the TV did not recognize "MP4" file from the Sony 4K camcorder. Our 4K resolution test patterns and photos were reproduced accurately with detail extending to the limits of UHD's resolution. When playing 1080p movie content from a Blu-ray disc, we found the TV's HD-to-UHD upconversion processing was very good. Edges of fine detail revealed slight jaggies, a bit more than we've seen on the best performers, but still fine overall. This model provides access to picture settings with any of these viewing modes so you can tweak the image to your preference. For more on how we test UHD see "ABOUT ULTRA HD PERFORMANCE" below.
MOTION BLUR This LG TV has good motion performance, with some blurring on our motion tests. Though this model includes TruMotion, a feature designed to reduce motion blur, we found it was only mildly effective.
SCREEN REFLECTIVITY Though not as mirror-like as on some LCDs, this screen surface is glossy and therefore susceptible to reflections from a nearby lamp or window. The screen is dark so it does a good job reducing glare from ambient light and maintains contrast even in a bright room.
3D PERFORMANCE The overall 3D effect was only good, a notch below the better 3D displays. 3D images showed effective depth, with minimal levels of ghosting (left eye/right eye crosstalk) on our 3D test patterns and on a wide variety of 3D program content. There was an increase in ghosting when we viewed 3D images from above or below eye level, which got worse as you move closer to the TV. In 3D mode, the display presented full 1080p resolution to each eye, showing all the detail from the best 3D content from Blu-ray disc.
SOUND QUALITY This TV has excellent sound, much better than most models we've tested. It has a good volume range so the TV can play sufficiently loud in most room environments, though quality degrades at the highest settings. At more typical listening volume levels the TV has a generally smooth sound along with deep bass and impact, though highs were a bit rolled off. Few TVs we've tested can achieve this high level of sound quality. You can try to get better quality from a high performing soundbar or separate home theater system but with this TV you really don't have to.
EASE OF USE Overall, we found the set easy to use. Setting up the TV for the first time was fairly straightforward, as was access to features and controls you'll probably adjust only once. Ease of access to features you typically use more often was very good. Also, the remote is very good, and the on-screen menu is easy to navigate.
It lacks a dedicated menu button on the television display, so you can't access the menu if you lose the remote. Remote has a dedicated button to access Internet features, and to access 3D. The remote's major function buttons were sufficiently large and have high-contrast labeling, making them easier to see and navigate. Labeling uses nonstandard icons making button selection less intuitive to use.
STAND ASSEMBLY Mounting the TV to the included support stand is fairly straightforward. The stand requires the assembly of a few parts before mounting.
INTERNET FEATURES This TV provides advanced Internet capability. Features include a full Web browser and access to a library of applications via "LG Store." Movie streaming services include: Amazon Instant Video, CinemaNow, Hulu plus, M-GO, Netflix, Vudu. It also supports an optional Web cam for access to video conferencing applications such as Skype.
CONNECTIONS This TV includes four HDMI inputs, one shared connection between the component and composite inputs (which means you can only use one type or the other at a time), optical digital audio out, three USB ports, an Ethernet port, and Wi-Fi. Wireless connectivity includes: DLNA network file sharing, and near field communication (NFC) file sharing. Analog connections are made via special breakout cable adapters (included) that attach to the TV as single plugs. That means you plug your component, composite, or stereo cables into a dangling "pigtail" rather than the back of the TV itself. This is actually a more convenient way to make the connections on slim-profile models, but if you lose that adapter you'll have no way to connect your cables directly to the TV. The cable connections on the rear panel are recessed with side or bottom-facing ports, so wires don't protrude beyond the display's depth.
INCLUDED IN THE BOX The TV comes with: a printed user manual, an electronic manual in the TV's menu, a quick start guide, a remote with batteries, provided cables (1 HDMI), breakout cables (One component, one composite with stereo audio ), two pairs of 3D glasses, and NFC Tag On Sticker. ABOUT FIRMWARE VERSION: Our test results and picture settings are valid for the version of firmware indicated. If your TV's firmware differs from the one shown you either have an older or a newer version of firmware. Manufacturers may periodically upgrade the TV's firmware to enhance operation, fix bugs, or add features. Firmware upgrades may be downloadable directly to your TV via a wired or wireless network (if internet capable), USB port, or memory card, depending on your TV's capability. You can check your TV's firmware version, or upgrade to the latest firmware by pressing the menu button on your remote and navigating to the appropriate submenu, typically under settings. Consult the user manual or manufacturer's website if further guidance is needed.
